Seeds for tomorrow's Great Western Highway

Work is underway to collect seeds from native plants and trees along the Great Western Highway ahead of future storage, propagation and replanting.

Transport for NSW Regional Director West, Alistair Lunn said the Great Western Highway Upgrade Program’s end-to-end landscape program would ensure the same types and species of plants currently along the highway would be continued in the future along the duplicated corridor.

“Qualified seed collectors and bushland regenerators have been appointed to carry out this work along the roadsides, nearby watercourses, and edges of the bush,” Mr Lunn said.

“They will gather seed stock from local native species to store, grow and then plant along the nature strips, median islands and other landscaped areas of the completed project between Katoomba and Lithgow. 

“These seeds will be stored in a purpose-built seed bank and later propagated in native plant nurseries.”

Mr Lunn said the collection, storage and propagation will continue throughout the highway duplication, with an initial focus given to the areas around the Medlow Bath and Coxs River Road intersection upgrades.

“These native seed collection activities will be conducted without impact to traffic and in accordance with the Florabank Guidelines, which are the national benchmark for best practice in native seed collection, processing and use.”

The Great Western Highway Upgrade Program is being funded by the Australian and NSW Governments. The Program will complete the final 34 kilometre link in a modern dual carriageway roadway across the Blue Mountains.

For more information visit nswroads.work/gwhd